Tales from the past

Recently, while working on my family tree, I discovered some pictures from the past regarding my family which are straight decendants of Germany...

 this is a picture of my grandfather which was taken in 1909 when he was only a few months old....

this is a picture a of him at age 5 during his first year of school at St. Joseph's Catholis School in Blakeslee, Ohio......

and finally, this is a picture of my great-grandfather Raymond Stoy's draft card from WWI in 1917.

It is amazing to me all of the history you can find regarding your ancestory if you only dare to try. I have pictures, birth certificates, death certificates, military records and so much more...information on family members that I never knew....if you are of a curious nature, try researching your ancestors. It is amazing what you can find. 

Jacob started his new school on 7/11/11 and has adjusted quite nicely if I do say so myself. He is in a less crowded room with plenty of eyes to watch over him and I could not be more please. He has already made friends with two other little boys and it is a joy to go pick him up in the afternoon and get a daily report from a live person instead of discoveries after departing the child care facility. We sent him to school  on his first day "Tonio Style". Take a look....

Jacob discovers the chicken mcnugget

Tonight we had a quick fix dinner at McDonald's. Jacob was definately not in the mood for babyfood and so I thought to myself, "give him a nuggett and see how he likes it...the worst that will happen is that he will throw it on the floor." As you can see from the pictures below, he likes his chicken McNugget..he ate 2 & 1/2 and was full. Hope you enjoy the pictures......

Could there be anything more precious I ask you???????????

Love for a child

James.....he is the eldest of my two beautiful children and has a spirit and temper just like me. When I realized that I was pregnant with him, I don't think there was a happier person on the face of this earth. My younger sister, Becky, was there with and for me every step of the way. Being a single mother herself, she knew what I was in for. This is me at 7 & 1/2 months......

and here is my baby boy......James - Day 1

Oh what joy, I never thought I wanted another one. He was, and still is, perfect in my eyes. And of course, I wanted a boy so in my mind, I had it all. He and I traveled, lived in many different places and explored life together

Whether it was climbing trees with PAPA Loren in Phoenix AZ......or

 playing with his fishing cap in San Juan, Puerta Rico....or



riding on his horsie in Dawsonville, GA....... he was always wearing a hat of some kind.....



James was always "My Little Man." Always sticking close to my side, but forever having his own adventures, he grew into a fine young man... here are some of my favorite pictures of him.....

Age 3

Age 4

           



Age 7



 and he is still riding things today...this was taken on a foreign tanker while he was in Afghanistan

 Jame is my first... and I cannot begin to express the love and respect that I have for him.....he has proven himself to be a fine young man and I am extremely proud to call him son.



 

Our Family trip to Fort Fisher Aquarium

 Today, we took the kids to the aquarium at Fort Fisher, NC. We rode the ferry and even Jacob enjoyed it. We saw a large turtle swimming in the waterway as well as many jellyfish. Hope you enjoy some of the highlights.............

Jacob trying to be a big boy now that he is ONE

                              mommy, granny, Jacob and Great-Uncle Philip

                            Gran and Jacob riding the ferry

                                   Jacob and Mommy riding the ferry

                              Conversating with the frogs at the aquarium

   and of course, along with growing up, comes the urge to drive...lol

Jacob's First Haircut

Today is Jacob's birthday. His uncle Philip gave him his first haircut and he looks so handsome. Check out the before and after shots below.....

BEFORE

AFTER

Jacob and his Uncle Philip

Morning on the Beach

Today Jacob, Brandyn, Philip and I went down to the beach for an early morning swin. Jacob liked the water but was not too fond of the sand. He did like playing with his truck that he got for his birthday and he certainly enjoyed eating, or trying to eat, the shells.

Jacob's 1st Birthday

Today we had Jacob's birthday party although he will not actually be one year old until 7/7/11. Walmart made the cake and did a fabulous job, They even did a personal one for Jacob to enjoy all to himself. And enjoy it he did.....

 



 Jacob enjoyed the cake so much that he even tried  to eat the cardboard

 Granny is so in love with her little man



And Jacob had all the fun one little boy could handle



And Mommy and Daddy had a good time as well..........Jacob is one special little boy...but I could be alittle predjudice...........what do you think?

I hope you enjoy sharing a few of the pictures that we took of Jacob's fun filled day

Jacob and James

This is Jacob's first real vacation and on the 1st day at the beach, he and his Uncle James played on the deck until he was just too tired to play any more. At some point in the afternoon, Jacob began thinking he could fly. Hope you enjoy some of the highlights below....

 Here is where Jacob had too much milk to drink and started thinking he could fly.

and the fun is just beginning....stay tuned